Centrifugal laundry extractor



Nov. 10, 1936, E. J. TE PAS CENTRIFUGAL LAUNDRY EXTRACTOR Filed Feb. 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Nov. 10, 1936. E, J. TE PAs CENTRIFUGAL LAUNDRY EXTRACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR o oooomaoooo -ooooowoooo Filed Feb. l, 1933 Patented Nev. 1o, 1936 UNITED VSTATES CENTRIFUGAL LAUNDRY EXTRACTOB Edmund J. Te Pas, Bocky River, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Comz pany, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 1, 1939, serial No. esmas 9 claim. (ol. 21o-71) This invention relates to clothes drying machines of the centrifugal extractor type and it has for its object the provision of an improved form of extractor clutch and brake mechanism,

the provision of a simple and safe extractor control means, and the provision of an improved means for preventing the escape of grease into the extractor compartment or the leakage of water into the gear case and an improved clutchl0 ing and braking mechanism. n

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an extractor mechanism illustrating one mode of practicing this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan elevational view of the top of the machine shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of certain.- details of the extractor control mechg5 anism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the extractor drive gearing taken on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-4,

Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 9, Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the brake shoe assembly.

The present invention may be used in connection with a combined washing and extracting machine of the type illustrated in Figure 3 of James B. Kirby, Patent 1,842,030, which was issued on January 19, 1932. Certain details of the washing mechanism of such a combined machine are not illustrated herein as they form no part of this invention.

In applying this invention to a combined washing and extracting machine of the type shown in the patent above referred to, thel extractor driving shaft I is connected through suitable gearing and mechanism to a rotatable extractor container 2 which is housed within the compartment 3 defined by a casing 4. The extractor container 2 may be provided with perforations 5 for the escape of huid upon the rotation of the container. The extractor container has a work-receiving opening defined by the turned-over edge 6 at its upper end and is provided thereat with a cover 1 which in the present case serves as a guard for the container 2 when it is in its closed position and as a clothes chute when it is shifted to its open position as is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

One of the important features of this invention 5 is that of utilizing the extractor cover 'I for controlling the operation of the extractor container in such a manner so as to prevent the startingV of the extractor when the cover is in its open position. l0

The driving shaft I of the extractor container is connected by means of a universal joint to a stub shaft 9. This Joint is provided with a dirtexcluding and grease-retaining cover 9. A channel or trough-shaped guard I0 is supported be- 15 neath the shaft I. This guard extends a distance beyond the ends of the shaft I and serves to catch oil that might escape from the bearing beneath which it is positioned as well as providing a guard for the shaft. 20

'I'he shaft 9 is journaled in suitable bearings I I and l2 formed in the extractor gear case base I9. The shaft 9 is provided with a helical gear I4 which is rigidly fixed thereon at a point intermediate the ends of the shaft. An oil seal vI i pre 25 vents the escape of yoil from about the bearing I2. The helical gear I4 engages a second helical gear I6, mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A third helical gear I1, carried by the horizontal pump shaft I8 meshes with the last men- 30 tioned helical gear I9 for the purpose of driving 4the pump I9. A ball thrust bearing 20 is provided for the shaft.

An extractor basket supporting shaft 2| is mounted at its lower end in an anti-friction bear- 35 ing 22. This bearing is tted in a suitable opening 23 provided in the bottom half I9 of the extractor gear case. A closure cap 24 secures the bearing 22 inplace in the gear case base. The extractor shaft 2| is provided with a threaded 40 lower end 25 for reception of a lock nut 20, by means of which the shaft 2| is secured to the cone or inner race 21 of the anti-friction bearing 22 whereby the shaft' is held against axial movement.

The gear case for the extractor mechanism is 45 formed with lower and upper halves I3 and 29, respectively. The lower half of the gear case or base I 3, is formed with bearings for the motor driven shaft 8 and supports for a pair of clutch or brake shafts 29 and 3,0. The coveror upper 50 half 28 of the extractor gear case is formed with a central opening 9 I, for reception of the extractor shaft upper bearing 32.

The extractor shaft bearing I2 is exteriorly threaded at 39 and is provided with an outwardly 55 extending liable 33.-at its lower end. A nut 33. ensasinathethreadedpartcf thebearingu, is provided for securing the extractor gear case totheframe33 ofthemachineandtothebottom 31 of the extractor tub I. Suitable gaskets 33 areprovidedtoprcvent leakage of water about the central 33 of the extractor taubv through which the bearing 32 proiects. 'nie extractor shaft 2i is provided with a truste-conical upper end Il, which is received in the fruito-conical socket 3l of the 'extractor basketbase 32. By use of theform of coupling shown the extractor basket may be'readily removed from its shaft 2i. The coupling also constitutes a frlctlonal driving connection between the basket and its shaft.

The extractorbasket base 32 is in the form of va bell-shaped die casting. An inwardly tapering sheet metal drum 33 issecured to the base v32 by the rivets 33. The taper of the shaft end 33 is such that the weight of the basket is suiilcient to provide for a good frictional driving connection at this point, while at the same time, permitting a slight amoimt of slippage in starting and stopping the rotation of the basket.

Perforations l are formed in the side walls of the basket to permit the expelling of water from the basket during its operation. The base portion of the extractor basket is provided with a plurality of holes 33, to permit the drainage of water from this portion of the basket. The upper end of the extractor basket carries an annular ring 33, which is provided to prevent clothes from dropping between the extractor basket and its tub 3. This ring may be of stamped metal construction and is pressed or spun into position on the top of the extractor basket.

A shaft seal is provided at the upper end of the shaft bearing to prevent the ingress of water into the extractor gear case and to prevent the escape of oil from such gear case into the extractor tub. 'Ihis seal comprises a sealing ring 31 having a smoothly finished edge which contacts with the smoothly finished upper end 43 of the extractor shaft bearing 32. The sealing ring 31 is fixed to rotate with the extractor shaft by means of its contact with the yielding packing ring 33. The packing ring is forced against the shaft and the sealing ring 31 by means of a gland 33 which is pressed againstthe pachng material by means of a spring 3| which abuts against the bottom of the extraetor'basket. The packing rin'g 33 is preferably made from' an oil proof soft rubber and is suiiiciently yielding to permit slight angular or wobbling movements of the sealing ring 31 which is rather loosely ntted on the shaft 2| to allow for such movements.

'I'he helical gear I3 is ilxedly secured to a clutch member 32, which is rotatably journaled on the extractor shaft 2|. At its upper end the clutch member 32 is provided with a conical clutch face 33. 'Ihe member 32 is held against axial movement by means of the shaft shoulder 34 and the collar 33.

Co-operating with the clutch member 32. which is xedly connected to the spiral gear I3, there is provided a second clutch member 33, which has the clutch member 33 and the washer 3|, which is heldinpositionontheshaft 2| bymeans ofthe pin 32. The outer' face of the vertically slidable clutch member 33 is formed with a truste-conical brake face 33, which engages a pair of brake members or shoes 34 and 33 having brake faces 33 and 31 respectively of similar contour. 'Ihe brake members 33 and 33 are provided with a pair of vertical fins 33, 33 and 13, 1I which are provided for reception of the cams 12 and 13 of the l clutch or brake shafts 23 and 33. The brake members 33 and 33'rest on ledges 13 provided by the upper edge of the gear case base I3. v

The brake shoes 3l and 33 are provided with opposltely facing pins 13 and 13 for supporting the compression springs 11, by means of which the brake shoes are urged away from the brake face 33 of the member 33. The springs 11 also serve to maintain the brake shoes in contact with the 12 and-.13. Suitable set screws 13 and 13 are provided'to secure the cams 12 and 13 to their respective shafts 23 and 33. The shafts 23 and 33 are connected to eachother by means of the rod 3l which is pivotally secured to opposltely located cranks 3i and 32 carried by the shafts 23 and 33 so that upon the .rotational movement of the shaft 23, the' shaft 33 is moved an equal amount in an opposite direction.

'Ihe shaft 23 is providedat its outer end with a crank arm 33. f Suitable oil seals (not shown) are tted in the' outer end of the bearing of the shafts 23 and 3,3 to prevent the escape of oil from the gear case at these points. The crank arm 33 is rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 23 and is held thereon by means of the nut 3l. 'I'he crank arm 33 is engaged by the lower end of a rod 33, which is operated by means of the cams 33 and 33 carried by the extractor cover 1. Contact is maintained between 'the rod 33, the cam 33, and arm 33, by means of the tension spring 31. which is secured at its opposite ends to the crank 33 and to the washing machin base 33.

The cam 33 has a slot for receiving the pivoted cam 33 which has a handle 33h for effecting the stopping of the extractor when the cover is closed. The lower end of the rod is drilled threaded for the reception of the bolt 33, by means of which its length can be readily adJusted. A lock nut 33 is provided for the bolt 33. The head of the bolt is received in a shallow cup 3|, which is formed in the end of the crank arm 33. The washing machine top plate 32 has an apertured arm 33 integrally formed therewith for receiving and guiding the upper end of the rod 33. The lower end of the rod 35 is guided in a bracket 34 which is carried by the machine base 33. I

During the operation of the washing machine motor, and with the parts in the position they occupy in Figures 1 and 5, the extractor basket will be at rest with the braking surfaces 33 and 33 and 31 in contact with each other. To start the rotation of the basket it is only necessary to close the lid 1, whereupon the movement of the cam 33 allows the rod 33 and the crank arm 33 to rise under influence of the spring 31. The movement of the crank arm 33 is transmitted to the shafts 23 and 33 which cause the cams 12 and 13 to move away from the brake shoes 34 and 33 allowing these members to separate and to move out of engagement with the brake face 33 of lthe member Il. Coincidentally with this operation, the spring 33 moves the clutch member 33 downwardly, bringing the frictional clutch faces 53 and 51 into engagement with each other, whereupon the basket 2 is driven by the rotating member 52.

The disengaging of the clutch and the stopping of the extractor is automatically accomplished by opening the lid 1 or by turning the cam 86a by means of its handle 86h. These operations move the aforesaid extractor control elements in a manner reverse to that just explained, to bring the brake surfaces together and in this manner raise the member 56 to separate the clutch surfaces 53 and 51, whereupon the basket 2 is quickly brought to rest.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the mechanism shown provides a simple and fool proof extractor control, the manipulation and operation of which may be readily learned in a few moments. By reason of using the extractor lid as the operating member of the control it is impossible to start therextractor without placing it in a safe operating condition with its lid closed and similarly when the lid is opened to permit access to the extractor basket this element is quickly brought to rest by the movement of the lid.

Furthermore it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and that various modications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from this invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said power means, operative connections between said cover and said clutch means, and supplemental means independent of said cover for controlling the operation of said container.

2. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, clutch means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said power means, control devices connected to said clutch means and operated by said cover for controlling the operation of said container, and additional means for operating said control devices independently of said cover.

3. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, means for disconnecting the'driving connection between said power means and container, brake means for stopping the rotation of said container after its driving connection with said power means has been disconnected. operative connections between said cover and said brake means, and supplemental means independent of said cover for controlling the operation of said brake means and the stoppage of said container.

4. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing,

a rotatable container having an opening in its upper en d, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, means for disconnecting the driving connection between said power means and container, brake means for stopping the rotation of said container after its driving connection with said power means has been disconnected, control devices connected to said brake means and operated by said cover for controlling the operation of said brake means and the stoppage of said container, and additional meansvfor operating said control devices independently of said cover.

5. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a easing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, clutch and brake means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said power means and for stopping its rotation, operative connections between said cover and said clutch and brake means, and supplemental means independent of said cover for controllingy the operation of said container. y

6. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, clutch and brake means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said 7 power means and for stopping its rotation, operative connections between said cover and said clutch and brake means, and supplemental means independent of said cover and movable about the pivot axis thereof for controlling the operation of said container.

7. A centrifugal extractor'comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, a cover for the top of said container pivoted to said casing, power means for driving said container, clutch and brake means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said power means and for stopping its rotation, control devices connected to said clutch and brake means and operated by said cover for controlling the operation of said container, and additional means for operating said control devices independently of said cover.

8. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, power means for driving said container, clutch and brake means for connecting and disconnecting said container to said power means and for stopping its rotation, and control means for said clutch and brake means including independently operable actuating members each of which may be separately used to start and stop said extractor.

9. A centrifugal extractor comprising, a casing, a rotatable container having an opening in its upper end, power means for driving said container, clutch and brake'means for connecting and disconnecting said containerY to said power means and for` stopping its rotation, and control means for said clutch and brake means including a pair of independently operable actuating members located adjacent to the top of the extractor either one of which may be used to start and stop said extractor.

EDMUND J. TE PAS. 

